The 58th Annual Artichoke Festival is expanding the long time event with a wine and craft beer garden

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Updated: 3:50 PM PDT Jun 5, 2017

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WEBVTT THE FIRST PITCH TONIGHT SET FOR6:30.THE 58TH ANNUAL CASTROVILLEARTICHOKE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVALKICKED OFF TODAY.FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW,THE FESTIVAL IS BEING HELD ATTHE MONTEREY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS.ACTION NEWS REPORTER BIANCABELTRAN WAS THERE AND SHE HASMORE ON THE EVOLUTION OF THEFESTIVAL.>> IN 1959 WAS ONE OF THE FIRSTOFFICIAL YEARS THEY HAVE THEARTICHOKE FESTIVAL.MARILYN MONROE WAS OUR HOST ATTHE TIME.BIANCA: KNOWN THEN AS NORMAJEAN, SHE BECAME THE FIRSTARTICHOKE QUEEN, ANDCASTROVILLE, THE ARTICHOKECENTER OF THE WORLD.BUT BY 2013, THE SMALL TOWN WASTOO SMALL FOR ITS FAMOUSARTICHOKE FESTIVAL.>> IT OUTGREW CASTROVILLE.WE HAVE A LARGER ATTENDANCE,MORE HAPPENING.WE ARE STILL HONORING THATCASTROVILLE ARTICHOKE.BIANCA: ALL OF THE ARTICHOKESARE FROM CASTROVILLE, OF COURSE,AND GUESTS CAN GO ON A FIELDTRIP TO PICK THEIR OWN.THE EVENT WAS MOVED TO THEMONTEREY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS,WHICH IS BUILT FOR LARGE CROWDS IN ITS FOURTH YEAR IN ITS NEWHOME, THE FESTIVAL IS EXPANDINGTO APPEAL TO MORE CULINARYTASTES.OVER A DOZEN CHEFS' SKILLS AREPUT TO THE TEST AS THEY WORK THEUNIQUE VEGETABLE INTO THEIRDISHES.>> JUST LOOKING AT THE PEOPLETODAY, OUR FIRST CHEF WAS ONTHIS MORNING.I GAVE HIM A SAMPLE.I GAVE HIM A BITE AND HIS EYESJUST OPENED UP.THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDHERE.BIANCA: NEW THIS YEAR, A WINEAND CRAFT BEER GARDEN >> WE GOT TO THIS NEXTGENERATION TO MAKE SURE THERE ISSOMETHING HERE FOR THEM.THEY WILL.I'M.>> IT IS GREAT MUSIC, GREAT FUN.BIANCA: ULTIMATELY, WHILE THEFESTIVAL ITSELF IS NO LONGER INCASTROVILLE, THE PROCEEDS MAKETHEIR WAY BACK.>> ANYTHING THAT THE FESTIVALGETS AN REGARDS TO MONEY ISFUNNELED BACK INTO OURCOMMUNITY.THERE ARE A VARIETY OFORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SUPPORTEVERY YEAR.BIANCA: YOU CAN TAKE THEARTICHOKE OUT OF CASTROVILLE BUTYOU CAN'T TAKE THE PAST ABOUTOUT OF THE ARTICHOKE.

Castroville Artichoke Festival attracts food and wine enthusiasts

The 58th Annual Artichoke Festival is expanding the long time event with a wine and craft beer garden